The Kingdom Within

"The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
Luke 17:20b&21

Jesus spoke these words to the Pharisees. They asked him when he would bring his kingdom. You see, they doubted all that Jesus said. They thought his kingdom was an earthly one. They expected him to restore the kingdom of Israel and remove them from the iron hand of the Romans. But Jesus was speaking of the kingdom of heaven. He was telling them, that to all who were willing to receive it, the kingdom would be within them.
    The kingdom of heaven is resident within all of us who have made a commitment to Christ. It is there in the person of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. I have a friend who says this: "If Jesus is the King of God's kingdom, then the Holy Spirit is the Royal Governor." This is a good way to look at it. In the same way that Jesus embodied the kingdom when he walked the earth, so we embody the kingdom because the Holy Spirit now dwells within each of us. He administers the kingdom into our lives by counseling us and pointing us to the King. When we accept this, we are making decisions to live within the kingdom of heaven instead of the kingdoms of this world.
    What a marvelous thing to know that the kingdom dwells within us! We have full access to God's kingdom because the Holy Spirit leads us there. I think, in order for us to fully participate in the reality of God's kingdom, we must deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit. After all, he lives in us and is available for counsel, instruction, comfort and joy at all times. How often do we ask him to help us? Do we truly walk with him as he walks with us?
    Today, understand that the kingdom of heaven is a real thing. Jesus made it available to us. Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and makes all the things of the kingdom available. So choose to walk with the Holy Spirit. He desires to be involved in every moment of your day. Even the little decisions that you may be used to making on your own, are opportunities to get closer to the Holy Spirit and allow him to lead you. In this way, you will begin to view life from a new perspective. It will not be the view you are used to. It will be a new panorama seen from a kingdom perspective. Living in the kingdom of heaven that dwells within you, will change your view of your daily circumstances. But you must make the choice. Walk with the Holy Spirit and experience God's kingdom!